Sand collecting and treating machine



' Dec. 4, 1928.

G. F. ROYER SAND COLLECTING AND TREAllNG MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 1927 61: tozneqo eats-Sheet 2 z sn Gzarge 7 w 1 1 M v 8 M h m. C m r a 1 a M M o I F M .s, F W Z .3;

ROYER SAND COLLECTING AND TREATING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1928.

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. ROYER, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROYER FOUNDRY & MACHINE 00., OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SAND COLLECTING AND TREATING MACHINE.

Application filed March 8, 1927. Serial No. 173,754.

The present invention relates to improvements in machines for treating and preparing sand for use in making moulds for metal casting operations.

More particularly, the ob]ect of the invention is to treat sand which has been employed in moulds and to render the sand suitable for reuse.

In metal foundries it is customary to break up moulds that have been used, deposltmg the sand upon the foundry floor. 1n piles. This used sand contains necessarily a-considerable proportion of metal scrap, nails and so forth, which necessitates treating the material to render the sand content thereof suitable for reuse.

' By the present invention a very simple, but

efiicient, means is provided for effectuallyseparating the sand and scrap metal and depositing the separated sand so that 1t can be used again either alone or with the addltion of fresh sand or other material.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constituting an embodiment of the present lnvention, Figure 2 is a side elevation, Figure 3 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail, on an enlarged scale of the separating drum, and

Figure 6 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention from that shown in Figures 1 to 4. Referring to the drawings, the embodiment 'of the invention illustrated comprisesa suit- 'able frame 1 which is supported on ground wheels 2 shown as being positioned coaxia'lly at opposite sides of the frame and 3 indicates a caster or guiding wheel by which'the direction of movement ofthe machine as a whole may be readily controlled.

As shown in Figure 1, the guiding or steering wheel 3 is supported by a rearward extension at one side of the main frame, and movement thereof is controlled by a suitable hand lever'. The wheel is thus located so that it will be out of the path of the separated sand that is discharged rearward from the machine, as hereinafter referred to, when in located a separating drum which in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises heads 5, 6 between which is arranged a shell or body 7; The shell or body is shown as being seated between annular flanges formed on the heads 5, 6, and about the periphery of such shell are positioned a series of annular discs 8. These are separated or spaced by distance pieces 9 to provide a series of relatively narrow annular peripheral pockets 10. The discs 8 and separating pieces 9 may be connected to the body of the drum by any suitable means. As shown they are clamped against the annular flange of the drum head 5 by a plate 11 which is bolted as at 12 to the drum head 6. As shown, the pe ripheries of the discs 8 are preferably pro-' V1d8d with slightly concave notches or re- CGSSBS.

- The drum referred to is mounted in suitable I as being'connected with a sprocket 22 on a shaft leading into the gear casing 16 by a chain 21.

Each of the ground wheels 2 is preferably provided with a gear 25 which gears are connected by chains 26 with sprockets 27 on a shaft 28 that extends through the gear casing. 16 so that through the motor 20 the machine will be bodily propelled over the floor on which the wheels 2, 3 travel.

A hand lever 30 is provided for controlling the gearing in the casing 16 whereby the whfiels 2 may be connected or disconnected at w1 Asa-ny suitable form of gearing and connections between the motor 20, the separating drum, and the ground wheels may be provided, the parts referred to are shown more or less conventionally and diagrammatically in the drawings v When a drum such as that described is rotated while being bodily advanced into a pile of mixed sand and metal scrap, particles of the sand will be collected in the annular peripheral pockets and so closely packed therein as to be carried upward and rearward as the drum rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fi ure 4.

0 assist the drum in collecting the particles of sand as described, it is preferable to provide metal guides 40 which project forward beyond the drum at opposite ends thereof, being suitably attached to the main frame and a scraper 42 extends across the space between these guides beneath the separating drum and slightly above the floor. This scraper and the guides act as the machine is driven into and through a pile of sand to assist in compacting the sand particles in the relatively narrow annular peripheral pockets on the separating drum. The pockets are of such size that they will not receive undesirable metal scrap and any pieces of the latter which may be carried upward by engagement with the peripheral notches of the discs 8 will be dislodged by the deflector 50 and prevented from being carried over the axis of the drum with the sand collected in said pockets.

Means are provided whereby the contents of the pockets collected as before described will be positively removed at points in rear of the vertical plane passing through the drum axis. In the embodiment of the in vention illustrated the means for effecting this discharge of the pockets comprises a series of fingers 52 projecting forward from a plate 53 into said pockets. Said fingers 52 are carried by an inclined plate 53 suitably supported in the frame 1 and over which the contents of the pockets will pass.

While the means so far described would provide for an eflicient separation of sand and metal scrap, it is preferred to combine therewith means whereby the separated sand will be thoroughly aerated and rendered suitable for use either alone or mixed with a suitable quantity of fresh sand in the preparation .of moulds for casting metals.

The advantage of thus thoroughly aerating the sandprior to forming moulds therefrom is well understood and appreciated in the foundry art. To effect this desired purpose means are provided by which the sand escaping over the rear edge of the plate 53 is positively impelled rearward to a considerable distance, through the air.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the impelling means shown in Figure 6 may be substituted for the propeller 60, 61. This modified form com prises an endless belt having projecting from its outer surface a large number of.

closely adjacent sprigs or pins 66. The sand discharged by the plate 53 will be received in the spaces between the pins 66 and as the relation of said pins are varied by the belt 65 passing over the rear, upper, guide roll 67, the sand will be discharged by centrifugal force and projected for a considerable distance through the air, thus thoroughly aerating it.

It will be understood that there can, of course, be considerable modification of many of the details illustrated without departing from the invention, and that the drawings are to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a material collecting and separating drum supported in said frame and provided with a series of annular, peripheral, pockets, means for positively rotating said drum as it is advanced by the. Wheeled frame into a pile of material to be treated, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel su ported frame particles of sand will be col ected in-said pockets and carried upward and rearward, and means, located in rear of the vertical plane including the axis of the drum, for discharging the contents of the pockets.

2. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a material collecting and separating drum supported in said frame and provided with a series of annular, peripheral, pockets, means for positively rotating said drum as it is advanc'ed by the wheeled/frame into a pile of material to be treated, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the Wheel supported frame particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried upward and rearward,

means located in rear of the vertical plane including the axis of the drum for discharging the contents of the pockets, and means for receiving the discharge from the pockets and projecting the same rearward from the drum through the air.

- 3. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a material collecting and separating drum supported in said frame and comprising a rotatable body including a series of annular discs spaced longitudinally of the :axis of the body to provide peripheral pockets, means for propelling the wheeled frame, means for rotating the drum as it is advanced by the wheeled frame into a pile of material to be treated, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel supported frame particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried upward and rearward, and means extending into the pockets in rear of the vertical plane including the axis of the drum for dislodging sand collected therein by the rotation and bodily forward movement of the drum.

4. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry fioor and separating the scrap'and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a material collecting and separating drum supported in said frame and provided with a series of annular, peripheral, pockets, means for positively rotating said drum as it is advanced by the wheeled frame into a pile of material to be treated, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel supported a frame particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried upward and rearward, relatively stationary fingers extending into said pockets in rear of the vertical plane including the axis of the drum for dislodging the contents of the pockets, and means for receiving the discharge from the pockets and projecting the same rearward through the air.

5. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a frame, ground wheels supporting said frame, means on the frame for actuating the wheels to move the frame and parts supported thereby, means for steering or guiding such movement of the frame, a

separating drum mounted in the frame to turn about a horizontal axis and provided w1th a serles of annular perlpheral pockets,

guides projecting forward from the frame beyond the periphery of the drum at the ends thereof, a scraper positioned between said guides beneath the drum, means on the frame for positively rotating the drum, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated, by movement of the wheel supported frame, particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried up ward and rearward, and means for dislodging the contents of said pockets at points in rear of the vertical plane extending through the drum axis.

6. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the

combination of a frame, ground wheels supporting said frame, means on the frame for actuating the wheels to move the frame and parts supported therein, means for steering or guiding such movement of the frame, a separating drum mounted in the frame to turn about a horizontal axis and provided with a series of circumferentially extending peripheral pockets, means cooperating with the drum for causing particles of sand to be simultaneously collected in the peripheral pockets of the drum as the latter is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel supported frame, and means supported by the frame in rear of the drum adapted to receive the contents of the pockets and to project the same rearward, for,

the purpose described.

7. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a material collecting and separating means comprising a body mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and a series of discs secured to the body and spaced longitudinally of its axis to provide a series of annular peripheral pockets, means for rotating said separating means as it is moved bodily forward into a pile of material to be treated by f the wheeled supporting frame, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel supportedframe particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried upward and rearward, and means for positively dislodging from said pockets, at points in rear of the vertical plane including the axis of said separating means, sand collected by the rotation and bodily forward movement of said means.

8. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and'scrap metal from a foundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the

combination of a Wheeled supporting frame, a materlal collectlng and separating means comprising a body mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and a series of peripherally notched discs secured to said body and spaced longitudinally of its axis to provide a series of annular peripheral pockets, means for rotating said separating means as it is moved bodily forward into a pile of material to be treated by the wheeled supporting frame, whereby as the drum is forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the wheel supported frame, particles of sand will be collected in said pockets and carried upward and rearward, and means for positively dislodging the contents of said pockets at points in rear of the vertical plane including i the axis of said separating means.

9. In a machine for lifting mixed moulders sand and scrap metal from afoundry floor and separating the scrap and sand, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a drum mounted in the frame to rotate about a of annular peripheral pockets, means for rotating the drum to cause sand to collect in said pockets as the drum is moved by the wheeled frame into a pile of material to be treated and revoluble separating drum mounted in the frame and provided with a series of circumferentially extending peripheral pockets,

whereby as the drum is revolved and forced into a pile of material to be treated by movement of the supporting frame particles of sand will be collected in said pockets simultaneously and carried upward and rearward, means for receiving the sand collected in said pockets of the drum and projecting it rearward, and a motor mounted on the frame and adapted to positively propel the Wheeled frame, rotate the separating drum and actuate the sand projecting means.

11. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a motor on the frame, a drum supported by the frame and provided with circumferentially extending peripheral pockets, means actuated by the motor for rotating the drum, whereby as the frame is moved to carry the drum into a pile of material to be treated, particles not exceeding a predetermined size will be collected in said pockets and separated from larger particles, and means on the frame for receiving the particles collected by the rotating drum.

12. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a drum mounted in the frame and having a series of peripheral, circumferentially extending, pockets, means for rotating the drum, whereby as the frame is moved to carry the drum into a pile of material to be treated, the rotation of the drum will effect separation of relatively small particles from the mass and collect the separated particles in said pockets, an inclined plate arranged in rear of the vertical plane of the axis of the drum to receive the contents of the pockets as the drum rotates, and means 'for receiving material from the lower edge of said plate and projecting it rearwardly.

, 13. In a machine for the purpose described,

the combination of a wheeled supporting frame, a drum mounted in the frame to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the path of movement of the supporting frame and having on its pe riphery a series of closely adjacent substantially parallel disks forming pockets extending circumferentially of the drum, means for rotating the drum to collect particles in said pockets as the frame is moved to carry the drum into a pile of material to be treated, and means in rear of the axis of the drum adapted to receive the contents of said pockets as the drum rotates and to project the same rearward. 14. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a series of annular discs arranged relatively close together to turn about a common substantially horizontal axis, and means for revolving said discs in contact with a mass of used molders sand, whereby particles of suitably fine sand will be separated from the mass and caused to enter the channels formed between said discs while pieces of scrap metal etc., will be prevented from entering said channels by contact with the peripheries of the discs.

15. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a drum supported to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a series of discs secured to the periphery of the drum and forming narrow annular channels or pockets thereon, and means for rotating the drum in peripheral contact with a mass of used molders sand, whereby particles of suit-- ably fine sand will be separated from the mass and caused to enter the channels formed between said discs while pieces of scrap metal etc. will be prevented from. entering said 'channels by contact with the peripheries of the discs.

In testnnonywhereof I have hereunto'set my hand. i

GEORGE F. ROYER. 

